advice, thoughts, and discussion

I’m Thankful

by trinityfamilyministries on November 20, 2012

This Thursday is one of the best family days of the year- Thanksgiving! Unfortunately, so many families forget that it’s a day about being Thankful and being with family. More and more stores are opening on Thanksgiving Day and more and more people are choosing to forego dinner in order to get in line at stores and get the latest and greatest thing. Now, I love a good deal as much as the next person, but as they say on ESPN…C’MON MAN!

Let’s continue our family traditions, or start some new ones this year. Cherish your family. And, be Thankful for everything that you have been blessed with! Here’s some ideas:

1- The Turkey Trot: Whether your ‘trotting’ pace is a stroll or a sprint, the ubiquitous Turkey Trot is a fun way to offset that extra slice of pumpkin pie. And on such a day of gratitude and appreciation, you can’t argue with a community-centered event that often raises funds for charitable causes. (my aunt and uncle always have their kids trot with them…ages 6 and 8 – never too young!)

2- Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade: Watch the parade! This is a great time for the family to gather in your PJs and experience the joy and excitement of Thanksgiving and the upcoming Christmas Season!

3- Let the kids cook: Bring the kids in the kitchen with you so they can “help” (or you can show/teach them) how to prepare a part of Thanksgiving Dinner. Kids can do something easy, like pouring the cream of mushroom soup in the casserole dish for the green bean casserole, beat the mashed potatoes (with your help of course), or set the table!

4- Play your own game of football: This was always a tradition in my husband’s family and with friends. Go outside and run around! Play catch, tackle each other, and see who’s going to win…boys or girls!

5- Make a wish: This is a tradition in my family. Known as a “lucky break” the tradition of tugging on either end of a fowl’s bone to win the larger piece and its accompanying “wish” dates back to the Etruscans of 322 B.C. The Romans brought the tradition with them when they conquered England and the English colonists carried the tradition on to America. You’ve gotta break the wishbone, and of course…make a wish!

6- Pre-meal prayer and Thankful wishes: Say a family prayer. After doing this, everyone around the table shares one thing that they are thankful for. It really makes you remember how much you really have and how blessed you are!

7- Football: If your family likes sports (as mine does) take some time to snuggle up after eating Turkey and watch one of the big games of the day. If you’re like my family, most of you will end up falling asleep!

8- Serve: There are people in our church this year that are spending their Thanksgiving with those who are less fortunate – by preparing a meal for them and sharing it with them. Take your kids and show them what serving is all about!

9- Show your gratitude to an unsung hero: Get together with your family and decide on a person or a group in your
community who could use an extra pat on the back; firefighters, soldiers, police officers, volunteers. Put
together a special plate of goodies and deliver it (or pack it up for shipping) as a family.

10- The day after Thanksgiving: You may be a family that does black Friday shopping…but after that – put up the Christmas tree. You don’t have to decorate it, or the rest of the house either (unless you want to) but putting up the tree (or the manger) the day after thanksgiving will help your family to remember what the Christmas season really is all about.

Have a very Happy Thanksgiving! Spend time with family and friends, and remember all you have to be thankful for this year!

2 responses to “I’m Thankful”

Excellent tips — we enjoy football as well and many years we manage a half-time football game, return to watch our beloved Packers win the game and serve the meal as soon as the game ends. It’s all about the family, though. Thanks for the reminder.